The Algarve, Portugal - guide to the wildflowers, wildlife and nature reserves

Other Great Wildflower/Wildlife Sites... Barbados Bulgaria France: Camargue France: Cevennes France: Lot Valley, Dordogne Greece: Crete Ireland: The Burren Italy: Gargano Peninsula Italy: Sibillini Mountains Maldives Portugal: The Algarve (intro) Portugal: Cape St Vincent Portugal: Parque Natural Ria Formosa Portugal: Parque Natural Vale-Guadiana Portugal: Sapal de Castro Marim Portugal: Fonte de Benemola Slovenia: Triglav Narodni National Pk UK: Create a Garden Pond UK: Wildlife Conservation Garden UK: Gait Barrow NNR, Cumbria UK: Kenfig NNR, Wales UK: Newborough Warren NNR, Wales UK: Noar Hill, Hampshire USA: Everglades National Pk USA: Grand Teton National Pk USA: Rocky Mountain National Pk USA: Yellowstone National Pk

Some of the Wildflowers in the Algarve...

Typical Algarve coast scene with Onopordum illyricum in the foreground

Although the Algarve faces the Atlantic Ocean, its climate owes much more to the Mediterranean region and shares the mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers associated with its neighbour, Spain, and the other countries that surround the Mediterranean basin. Despite the ongoing development of holiday villas and golf courses in the Algarve, much of the coast has been set aside as nature reserves and so it remains a paradise for wildflowers, birds and many other species of wildlife.

To get the most out of a trip to see the wildflowers, and wild orchids in particular, that flourish in the Algarve it is best to visit during the spring - March and April are ideal months. The weather is generally warm and sunny and you will be greeted by a bewildering profusion of flowers wherever you turn.

Excursions along the coastal strip, sometimes referred to as the littoral zone, are a great way to start. This part of the Algarve contains a habitat known as garrigue - an area close to the sea with dense cushions of plants, pruned by the winds and with well defined bare, stony areas in between making the going quite comfortable. In other parts of the coast there are woodlands consisting mainly of the Umbrella (or Stone) Pine (Pinus pinea) which is one of the few trees that can withstand the harsh, salt-laden and windy conditions found there. Further inland is another distinctive habitat referred to as maquis and this supports taller and more dense shrubs which can be almost impenetrable. Few of these areas are without some clearings allowing access, and it is there that you can discover many botanical wonders. Higher up and further from the coast is the mountainous region, sometimes called the serra, which is forested with native cork oaks (Quercus suber), pines and imported Eucalyptus trees. This part of the Algarve also has open, rocky areas which support numerous plants and which frequently resemble rock gardens, although these are populated with wildflowers and not cultivars.

In between the coast and the mountains there are extensive areas of farmland and, unlike the farmland we are used to in Britain, which is virtually devoid of wildflowers due to the excessive use of herbicides and pesticides, these fields in the Algarve are home to an astonishing variety of wildflowers. In cultivated field margins you will find many flowers. Similarly, farmland that is either abandoned or being allowed to lie fallow is immediately taken over by vast numbers of wildflowers, as the picture below illustrates.

An Algarve field that is lying fallow has become home to thousands of wildflowers

The Algarve is home to a fascinating range of rare and beautiful wild orchids including the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora) and numerous others many of which are easy to find. You can find pictures and descriptions of many of the orchids on this website in the Southern European section of the wildflower garden.

The Mirror Orchid (Ophrys speculum) is a real speciality of the Algarve

Many of the lovely wildflowers of the area are easily accessible and seem to grow almost anywhere during the spring and early summer, but if you want to see some of the rarer ones, and to enjoy some of the other wonderful wildlife of the region, the national parks and reserves are good places to start. Below are links to detailed information about the most important wildlife areas and natural parks of the Algarve:

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real do San Antonio
Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana
Parque Natural da Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vincentina - Cape St. Vincent
Fonte de Benemola

A Selection of Wildflowers in the Algarve ( For a more complete list and Portuguese names...)

Scientific Names	Common Names	Botanical Families
Allium ampeloprasum	Wild Leek	Liliaceae
Allium subvillosum	Allium subvillosum	Liliaceae
Anacamptis coriophora	Bug Orchid	Orchidaceae
Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans	Bug Orchid	Orchidaceae
Anacamptis morio	Green-winged Orchid	Orchidaceae
Anacamptis morio subsp. champagneuxii	Champagne Orchid	Orchidaceae
Anacamptis morio subsp. longicornu	Long-spurred Orchid	Orchidaceae
Anacamptis pyramidalis	Pyramidal Orchid	Orchidaceae
Anacamptis pyramidalis var. albiflora	Pyramidal Orchid - white variant	Orchidaceae
Anagallis monelli	Shrubby Pimpernel	Primulaceae
Anagallis tenella	Bog Pimpernel	Primulaceae
Anchusa azurea	Large Blue Alkanet	Boraginaceae
Andryala integrifolia	Andryala	Asteraceae
Anthyllis vulneraria	Kidney Vetch	Fabaceae
Antirrhinum majus	Snapdragon	Scrophulariaceae
Arbutus unedo	Strawberry Tree	Ericaceae
Arisarum vulgare	Friar's Cowl	Araceae
Armeria pungens	Sea Rose	Plumbaginaceae
Asphodelus aestivus	Common Asphodel	Liliaceae
Asphodelus fistulosus	Hollow-stemmed Asphodel	Liliaceae
Astericus maritimus	Yellow Sea daisy	Asteraceae
Astragalus lusitanicus	Astragalus lusitanicus	Fabaceae
Bellardia trixago	Bellardia	Scrophulariaceae
Bellardia trixago	Bellardia	Scrophulariaceae
Borago officinalis	Borage	Boraginaceae
Bougainvillea glabra	Bougainvillea	Nyctaginaceae
Brassica oleracea	Wild Cabbage	Brassicaceae
Calystegia soldanella	Sea Bindweed	Convolvulaceae
Carpobrutus edulis	Hottentot Fig - mauve	Aizoaceae
Carpobrutus edulis	Hottentot Fig - yellow	Aizoaceae
Centaurea pullata	Centaurea pullata	Asteraceae
Cephalanthera damasonium	White Helleborine	Orchidaceae
Cephalanthera longifolia	Sword-leaved Helleborine	Orchidaceae
Cerinthe major	Honeywort - cream	Boraginaceae
Cerinthe major	Honeywort - purple	Boraginaceae
Cichorium intybus	Chicory	Asteraceae
Cistanche phelypaea	Cistanche	Orobanchaceae
Cistus albidus	Grey-leaved Cistus	Cistaceae
Cistus ladanifer	Gum Cistus	Cistaceae
Cistus salviifolius	Sage-leaved Cistus	Cistaceae
Colchicum autumnale	Autumn Crocus	Liliaceae
Consolida ambigua	Annual Larkspur	Ranunculaceae
Convolvulus arvensis	Field Bindweed	Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus tricolor	Dwarf Convolvulus	Convolvulaceae
Cota tinctoria	Yellow Chamomile	Asteraceae
Cotula coronopifolia	Buttonweed	Asteraceae
Cytinus hypocistis	Cytinus hypocistus	Rafflesiaceaea
Datura stramonium	Thorn-apple	Solanaceae
Digitalis purpurea	Foxglove	Scrophulariaceae
Dipcadi serotinum	Dipcadi	Liliaceae
Ecballium elaterium	Squirting Cucumber	Cucurbitaceae
Echium angustifolium	Narrow-leaved Bugloss	Boraginaceae
Epipactis helleborine	Broad-leaved Helleborine	Orchidaceae
Epipactis lusitanica	Epipactis lusitanica	Orchidaceae
Epipactis tremolsii	Epipactis tremolsii	Orchidaceae
Erica lusitanica	Portuguese Heath	Ericaceae
Erica multiflora	Erica multiflora	Ericaceae
Eryngium maritimum	Sea Holly	Apiaceae
Fedia cornucopiae	Fedia	Valerianaceae
Ferraria crispa	Black Flag	Iridaceae
Foeniculum vulgare	Fennel	Apiaceae
Fritillaria lusitanica	Fritillaria lusitanica	Liliaceae
Fumaria capreolata	White Ramping-fumitory	Fumariaceae
Galium verum	Lady's Bedstraw	Rubiaceae
Gennaria diphylla	Gennaria diphylla	Orchidaceae
Gladiolus italicus	Field Gladiolus	Iridaceae
Glaucium corniculatum	Red Horned-poppy	Papaveraceae
Glaucium flavum	Yellow Horned-poppy	Papaveraceae
Glebionys coronaria	Crown Daisy	Asteraceae
Gynandriris sisyrinchium	Barbary Nut	Iridaceae
Helichrysum stoechas	Helichrysum stoechas	Asteraceae
Himantoglossum hircinum	Lizard Orchid	Orchidaceae
Himantoglossum robertianum	Giant Orchid	Orchidaceae
Hyoscyamus niger	Henbane	Solanaceae
Iris albicans	Iris albicans	Iridaceae
Iris xiphium	Spanish Iris	Iridaceae
Lathyrus latifolius	Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea	Fabaceae
Lavandula stoechas	French Lavender	Lamiaceae
Leucojum autumnale (Acis autumnalis)	Autumn Snowflake	Amaryllidaceae
Leucojum trichophyllum	Three-leaved snowflake	Amaryllidaceae
Limodorum abortivum	Violet Limodore	Orchidaceae
Linaria algarviana	Algarve Toadflax	Scrophulariaceae
Linaria reflexa	Reflexed-fruit Toadflax	Scrophulariaceae
Linum narbonense	Beautiful Flax	Linaceae
Lithodora fruticosa	Shrubby Gromwell	Boraginaceae
Lobelia dortmanna	Water Lobelia	Campanulaceae
Lupinus angustifolius	Narrow-leaved Lupin	Fabaceae
Lupinus luteus	Yellow Lupin	Fabaceae
Malcolmia flexuosa	Malcolmia flexuosa	Brassicaceae
Malcolmia littorea	Malcolmia littorea	Brassicaceae
Malva multiflora	Cretan Mallow	Malvaceae
Matricaria discoidea	Pineaple Mayweed	Asteraceae
Medicago marina	Sea Medick	Fabaceae
Misopates orontium	Lesser Snapdragon	Scrophulariaceae
Muscari comosum	Tassle Hyacinth	Liliaceae
Muscari neglectum	Grape Hyacinth	Liliaceae
Narcissus bulbocodium	Yellow Hoop Petticoat Daffodil	Liliaceae
Narcissus elegans	Narcissus elegans	Amaryllidaceae
Narcissus papyraceus	Paperwhite Narcissus	Amaryllidaceae
Narcissus serotinus	Narcissus serotinus	Amaryllidaceae
Neotinea maculata	Dense-flowered Orchid	Orchidaceae
Neotinea tridentata subsp. lactea	Milky Orchid	Orchidaceae
Neottia nidus-avis	Bird's-nest Orchid	Orchidaceae
Nepeta tuberosa	Catmint (Nepeta tuberosa)	Lamiaceae
Nerium oleander	Oleander	Apocynaceae
Ononis pusilla	Ononis pusilla	Fabaceae
Onopordum illyricum	Illyrian Scotch Thistle	Asteraceae
Ophrys apifera	Bee Orchid	Orchidaceae
Ophrys bombyliflora	Bumblebee Orchid	Orchidaceae
Ophrys dyris	Ophrys dyris	Orchidaceae
Ophrys fusca	Sombre Bee Orchid	Orchidaceae
Ophrys iricolor	Rainbow Ophrys	Orchidaceae
Ophrys lutea	Yellow Ophrys	Orchidaceae
Ophrys scolopax	Woodcock Orchid	Orchidaceae
Ophrys speculum	Mirror Orchid	Orchidaceae
Ophrys speculum subsp. lusitanica	Lusitanica Orchid	Orchidaceae
Ophrys tenthredinifera	Sawfly Orchid	Orchidaceae
Opuntia ficus-indica	Prickly Pear	Cactaceae
Orchis anthropophora	Man Orchid	Orchidaceae
Orchis italica	Naked Man Orchid	Orchidaceae
Orchis mascula	Early-purple Orchid	Orchidaceae
Ornithogalum narbonense	Ornithogalum narbonense	Liliaceae
Ornithogalum umbellatum	Star-of-Bethlehem	Liliaceae
Orobanche amethystea	Amethyst Broomrape	Orobanchaceae
Orobanche crenata	Carnation-scented Broomrape	Orobanchaceae
Orobanche foetida	Orobanche foetida	Orobanchaceae
Orobanche minor	Common Broomrape	Orobanchaceae
Orobanche ramosa	Hemp Broomrape	Orobanchaceae
Oxalis articulata	Pink Oxalis	Oxalidaceae
Oxalis Pes-capre	Bermuda Buttercup	Oxalidaceae
Paeonia clusii	Clusius's Peony	Paeoniaceae
Paeonia mascula	Wild Peony	Paeoniaceae
Pancratium maritimum	Sea Daffodil	Amaryllidaceae
Papaver rhoeas	Field Poppy	Papaveraceae
Paronychia argentea	Paronychia	Caryophyllaceae
Phlomis purpurea	Purple Phlomis	Lamiaceae
Prunus dulcis	Almond	Rosaceae
Rhododendron ponticum	Rhododendron	Ericaceae
Romulea bulbocodium	Romulea bulbocodium	Iridaceae
Rosa canina	Dog Rose	Rosaceae
Ruta chalepensis	Fringed Rue	Rutaceae
Salvia verbenaca	Wild Clary	Lamiaceae
Sarcocornia perennis	Perennial Glasswort	Chenopodiaceae
Scandix pecten-veneris	Shepherd's Needles	Apiaceae
Scilla autumnalis	Autumn Squill	Liliaceae
Scilla bifolia	Alpine Squill	Liliaceae
Scilla monophyllos	One-leaved Scilla	Liliaceae
Scilla peruviana	Scilla peruviana	Liliaceae
Scolymus hispanicus	Spanish Oyster Plant	Asteraceae
Serapias cordigera	Heart-flowered Serapias	Orchidaceae
Serapias lingua	Tongue Orchid	Orchidaceae
Serapias parviflora	Small-flowered Serapias	Orchidaceae
Serapias vomeracea	Long-lipped Tongue Orchid	Orchidaceae
Silene colorata	Pink Catchfly	Caryophyllaceae
Silene gallica	Small-flowered Catchfly	Caryophyllaceae
Solanum dulcamara	Bittersweet	Solanaceae
Solanum linnaeanum	Apple of Sodom	Solanaceae
Spiranthes spiralis	Autumn Lady's Tresses	Orchidaceae
Thalictrum aquilegifolium	Great Meadow Rue	Ranunculaceae
Thymus polytrichus	Wild Thyme	Lamiaceae
Tolpis barbata	European Umbrella Milkwort	Asteraceae
Tragopogon hybridus	Pasture Goatsbeard	Asteraceae
Tragopogon porrifolius	Salsify	Asteraceae
Tripleurospermum inodorum	Scentless Mayweed	Asteraceae
Tripleurospermum maritimum	Sea Mayweed	Asteraceae
Tripodion tetraphyllum	Bladder Vetch	Fabaceae
Tuberaria guttata	Spotted Rockrose	Cistaceae
Vicia benghalensis	Red Tufted Vetch	Fabaceae
Vicia cracca	Tufted Vetch	Fabaceae
Vinca minor	Lesser Periwinkle	Apocynaceae

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